Hi ladies and gentlemen - I am David Tinker, current Vice President of Altacal Audubon - the Chico Chapter of the National Audubon Society; and now I also get to be the interim President of our group. That's because I am here tonight to honor and highlight Altacal's departing President Richard Redmond. Richard is not only our departing President, but one of Chico's tenacious conservation warriors. He is known to most of us here tonight and I know he will be greatly missed by all of us!

Richard leaves a giant hole to be filled by others who are willing to be ACTIVE STEWARDS for this local community and environment.

Tonight the award that we present to Richard is called the "Lynn Thomas Award". Although I personally have not had the opportunity to know Lynn very well, her legacy continues to live on and continues to speaks of her tireless and tenacious energies that she put forth to help the Chico community and environment.

Richard is another one of these individual who for 3 decades has continually fought to maintain the environmental health of the Chico. He has attended and spoke at countless meetings; whether it was the County Board of Supervisors, the Chico City Council meetings, and anywhere else that he has had the chance to speak up. He has been on the Board of Directors of Altacal for years and has served numerous times as President, Vice-President, Conservation Chair, Field trip leader and maybe more!??

Richard has done all of this NOT because he was paid to do these things, NOT because he wanted awards and recognition, but because he truly loves and cares for his environment. Richard has directly involved himself in the daily fight for the health and well-being of the Chico community and environment.

Also, through Richard's continual hard work he has helped to provide OPPORTUNITIES for many others to learn and care for the environment. When we think about helping others to become STEWARDS of the environment, its all about OPPORTUNITIES. How will others learn to care and protect their world, if they do not know of it's wonder and splendor. How will our children learn to really care for their local environment and community if they do not know about the environment and community. Its all about providing OPPORTUNITIES and directly supporting and fighting for the environment and community.

13 years ago, when I was new to the north state and in the process of becoming a high school science teacher, I was seeking to learn about the outdoor environment that I really knew very little about. I was given my first Field Guide…..a Peterson's Bird Guide to Western North America. It was an opportunity provided to me by a nice elderly lady lawyer who knew of the wonder and splendor of the outdoor world. When I was seeking out local environmental and conservation groups I found Richard and Altacal and was again provided an opportunity to continue my education about the world's wonder and splendor. This Butte County Snow Goose Festival is a magnificient opportunity to show and teach others about the wonder and splendor of our local world.

I am proud and honored to have worked with Richard for the last 10 years. The world needs many others just like him, who will fight for a better world and provide others with the opportunities to learn about it.

Richard, here is your plaque. May you have NO mercy on Texas, when you get there….God help you and God help Texas. Congratulations and Thank you!